Blue Devils within reach of record high score

Semifinals competition narrows field to top 12 advancing corps

By Michael Still
Saturday, August 9, 2014 - 2:15 AM

Blue Devils

Blue Devils lit up Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday and continued to impress the judges with their 2014 program “Fellniesque,” capturing yet another first-place finish with a score of 98.950 and sweeping the overall captions.

The record high score at the World Championship Finals was set at 99.150 by the Cavaliers in 2002 and was tied in 2005 by the Cadets. Many are already speculating if we may just be looking at a new record holder if the Devils can find it in them to jump two tenths of a point overnight.

“We’ve been rehearsing hard every day, and we’re becoming more and more cohesive as an ensemble,” said front ensemble member Gabe Monteyor. “It would be really exciting to set a new standard for the activity.”

The Cadets

The Cadets are going into the Finals in second place (96.700) while the Bluecoats (3rd, 96.550) are sitting just fifteen hundredths of a point behind the Allentown corps. This marks the closest the race has been between the two competitors all season. The Bluecoats were second in overall general effect and tied the Cadets for second place in overall music.

Santa Clara Vanguard (4th, 95.650) once again had the top percussion score of the evening with a 19.5, and although the Bluecoats are nipping at their heels, Vanguard’s percussion arranger and caption head Paul Rennick has faith in the members to pull off one more high score tomorrow.

“One of the hardest things to do is to hit that three times in a row,” said Rennick. “But I think we’ve reached such a consistent level of performance that we’re just building on our own confidence.”

Carolina Crown

Carolina Crown took home fifth place with a score of 95.300, the Cavaliers received sixth with a score of 93.275, and the Blue Knights followed in seventh with a 91.825.

Phantom Regiment members (8th, 91.550) came into tonight’s competition feeling comfortable and confident after their Prelims performance and delivered their best performance of the season according to brass caption head Christian Carichner.

“I think this show has so much incredible depth and beauty to it, and the amount of expression that’s developed over the season is absolutely remarkable,” said Carichner. “I’m looking forward to watching them take over the show. At this point, it really does completely become theirs. It’s out of everybody else’s hands.”

Even though the gap in score decreased, Blue Stars (9th, 89.225) kept hold of their lead on Boston Crusaders (10th, 89.050), and the Madison Scouts took 11th with a score of 87.650.

Crossmen

The Crossmen (12th, 85.450) from San Antonio snuck into the “Top 12” after missing out last year with a 14th-place finish. This is only the second time in the last 10 years that the corps has advanced through the Semifinals, and for drum major Jordan Schock, it’s a dream come true.

“Icing on the cake,” said Schock. “It’s my fifth year with the corps and I’ll be sad to see it go, but it’s been nothing short of spectacular. I’ve grown a lot and had the best time of my life.”

The Texas corps received a one-point penalty Friday night that according to contest director Tony DiCarlo was assessed to the corps for a warm-up violation. The deduction put the Colts (13th, 85.350) within a tenth of a point of securing a spot in the Finals competition for the first time since 2007.

Blue Devils B

The Troopers (14th, 84.775) kept their distance from Open Class Champions Blue Devils B (15th, 82.325), but overnight the California corps surged past three World Class ensembles including the Academy (16th, 81.875), Spirit of Atlanta (17th, 81.550), and Oregon Crusaders (19th, 80.100).
Vanguard Cadets (18th, 80.200) also made an impressive jump ahead of its World Class competition, placing ahead of the Oregon Crusaders and Pacific Crest (20th, 78.900).

Mandarins members performed their program “Unbreakable: The Human Spirit is Limitless,” and finished 21st with a score of 78.150. Drum major Barrett Juhrend believes that the show title is a fitting tribute to the corps’ 2014 campaign.

Mandarins

“In drum corps, you have to have an unbreakable spirit to push through the season and survive the days that you may not have much going your way,” said Juhrend. “You may ache and you may be sore, but at the very end you’ve accomplished so much.”

Jersey Surf (22nd, 75.80), Genesis (23rd, 74.075), Spartans (24th, 74.050), and 7th Regiment (25th, 71.475) rounded out the Semifinals competition and brought their summer seasons to an end.
On Saturday, the 12 highest scoring corps will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium to perform one last time as the 2014 Drum Corps International Tour comes to a close.

Contributing to this report: Christina Mavroudis, Katy Nowak

DCI's Prelim competition

Many of you know that I LOVE Drum & Bugle corps and follow it every summer. Well, it's hard to believe that the summer is almost over for the corps as they round the next 2 nights of competition.

Top 12 'shuffle' at Prelims competition

By Travis Cornejo
Friday, August 10, 2012 - 1:12 AM

Blue Devils

Blue Devils (97.55) took first place at the World Championship Prelims, Friday, Aug. 10, and took one more step to adding another perfect season to the corps' record books."The focus right now is just getting better every time we have a rep," Blue Devils drum major Matt Williams said. "Keeping our eyes on the prize and really pushing to the end."
Williams said the corps was itching to go and raring to take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. As they look forward to the Semifinals, he echoed a sentiment from corps director David Gibbs after their performance.
"Those last couple of points aren't necessarily going to come from cleaning tiny things up," Williams said. "It's just that little extra something — that Blue Devils sparkle you've see in years past."

Carolina Crown

Carolina Crown (96.60, 2nd) made small headway on closing the gap on Blue Devils and put two points between themselves and Phantom Regiment (94.60, 3rd). The Cadets (94.05, 4th) returned to fourth place after finishing ahead of Phantom Regiment at their last three events.Santa Clara Vanguard (93.20, 5th) drum major Noe Gomez said they had a solid Prelims run throughout, from color guard to brass to percussion.
"I feel like tomorrow night is going to be nice and solid," Gomez said. "A nice solid performance just like we had tonight. Nothing too crazy for us. We're just going to come back and try to do it consistently."
Bluecoats (92.25, 6th) were the last corps to break 90 points on Thursday. In 2011, eight corps broke the 90-point barrier by Finals night. The Cavaliers (89.50, 7th) found themselves half a point away from joining the club.

The Cavaliers

Boston Crusaders (89.00, 8th) kept themselves ahead of Madison Scouts (88.55, 9th), while Blue Knights (85.85, 10th) made their move on Spirit of Atlanta (85.20, 11th). Blue Knights and Spirit of Atlanta swapped placements from where they finished at the DCI Eastern Classic last weekend.In turn, despite falling behind Blue Stars (83.75, 12th) on Sunday, Aug. 5 at the Three Rivers Summer Music Games, Spirit of Atlanta surged past Blue Stars for a little more secure spot in the top 12. All the while, Crossmen (83.40, 13th) held on to the 13th spot.
Glassmen (81.25, 14th) drum major Adam Shrock said his corps' Prelims performance went really well, with corps members showing a good amount of energy out on the field.
"I'm thinking if the energy is sustained than all we need to do is do what we've always done," he said. "Wake up tomorrow morning and treat it like another show day. Not like Semifinals trying to make Finals. Just treat it like a show day and have the same focused energy that we always have."

Glassmen

In his first year with the Toledo corps, Shrock will return to the Glassmen next year once again as drum major. He's previously marched with Pioneer and has two seasons left before aging out."It's crazy," he said about how the current season has gone. "This season feels faster than the last. It feels like just yesterday you're moving in and suddenly you're moving out."
The Academy (79.95, 15th) Director Mark Richardson said their 2012 field show "Left of Spring" is a story about rebirth — a story mimicked by the corps this year, in regards to their growth and evolution in the past 11 years.
The score gap between Pacific Crest (78.95, 16th), Colts (77.45, 17th) and Troopers (76.35, 18th) widened in comparison to the 1.35 points that separated the trio at the DCI Eastern Classic last weekend. And in their first post-Open Class Championship performance, Oregon Crusaders (75.90, 19th) kept their lead on all other Open Class corps.
In their first performance without the Bridgemen Alumni backdrop, Jersey Surf (74.50, 20th) landed ahead of the silver and bronze Open Class-medalists Blue Devils B (73.45, 21st) and Vanguard Cadets (72.95, 22nd).

Blue Devils B

It was also the first indoor performance for Blue Devils B this season."I don't think it was too much of an issue," Blue Devils B color guard captain Danelle Porter said. "I think maybe at first it might have caught a couple of people off guard, but besides that I think they handled it very well."
She said overall their season has been going well, pushing harder at this time than they have in any other season.
With Mandarins (71.70, 23rd) qualifying for the Semifinals once again, it was surely a happy birthday for cymbal player Adrian Sarmiento, who turned 22 on Thursday.
"This is my first time ever marching DCI," he said. "I've been marching WGI for a really long time. So being in my age-out, and my bonus year at that, I had to march at least one year."

7th Regiment

Spartans (69.35, 24th) was the fourth and last Open Class corps to qualify for the Semifinals. Cascades (68.65, 25th) secured 25th place and the last spot in Friday's competition. In their first World Championship performance, Gold (66.35, 26th) missed out on Semifinals by 2.30 points. Their place ahead of 7th Regiment (64.45, 28th) and Genesis (63.50, 29th) was the only change in the rankings from the Open Class Finals two days earlier.
It was the last performance of the season for Pioneer (66.20, 27th), and the last performance ever in a junior drum corps for Pioneer age-out Steven Wright.
"I've been marching Pioneer for three years, but this is my 13th year doing drum corps," he said. "I marched in a drum corps back in England called Concord Drum and Bugle Corps. And I started in their junior corps 13 years ago."

Les Stentors

After his England-based corps folded, he contacted DCI Hall of Fame member Steve Vickers, who let him know about an opening with Pioneer. Wright joined and said he hasn't regretted the decision since. As for his last performance with Pioneer, he said his corps was outstanding, pulling out an amazing performance."It was just a brilliant experience for everyone," Wright said. "I'm more than happy to have that as my last show."
Legends (63.40, 30th), Music City (62.85, 31st) and Raiders (61.05, 32nd) all broke the 60-point barrier on their first time being judged on World Class judging sheets this season. Rounding out the bottom three spots were Colt Cadets (57.95, 33th), Les Stentors (52.75, 34th) and Blue Saints (49.10, 35th).
View all scores from this event.
View a complete schedule of World Championship events.

Contributing to this report: Christina Mavroudis, Jessica Skogh

Read more: DCI News

Celebrate Indy Arts! Parade

Celebrate Indy Arts! Parade
A part of the 2011 Drum Corps International World Championships

Date: Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET
Location: Downtown Indianapolis
Admission: Free and open to the public

About: Hosted as part of the annual Drum Corps International World Championships, the first-ever Celebrate Indy Arts! Parade will bring more than 30 of the world's finest marching music ensembles from around the world together with members of the local Indianapolis arts community in the most musical, creative and fun-filled parade to ever hit the streets of the Circle City.

Stepping off at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 13, the parade will wind through the streets of downtown Indianapolis, ending on the Indiana War Memorial Mall (431 North Meridian St.). Concluding the event in the early afternoon will be a tribute to America, as more than 2,000 brass musicians assemble to play an en masse rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Drum Corps International will host its annual World Championship Finals later that evening at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Parade Route

The parade will start at North and Pennsylvania and head south on Pennsylvania. A right turn on New York and another right turn on Meridian will bring it all to an end at St. Clair. The route from start to finish is just under a mile long.

Big, Loud & Live! 7

Celebrate the best of the best as Drum Corps International presents its 2010 World Championship Quarterfinals LIVE on the big screen! Presented by DCI and National Cinemedia’s Fathom Events, Big, Loud & Live 7, will be simulcast from Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium into nearly 500 movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

 For more information, please check out DCIs Cinema site to find a theater near you!!!

What's going on in the world of Drum Corps?

Blue Devils

On Saturday, June 5, System Blue and the creative entertainment firm Aerial Experience Productions will help launch the CHOPS National Percussive Arts Competition, a brand new series of drumline contests. Contestants will be judged on creative expression and artistic styling along with technical ability.
Boston Crusaders

On Friday, June 18, the Crusaders are hosting their 11th annual Spring Fling, performing at Nonatum Post 440 in Newton, Mass. The Spring Fling will feature a preview of the corps’ 2010 production along with dinner, auctions, prizes, and a performance by the Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps.
The Cadets

Alumnus Dave Shaw had lots of positive feedback about the Cadets’ Memorial Day events. He blogs about the weekend from a memorial mass in honor of Cadets and military veterans, to a special alumni reception, to the corps’ Evening With the Cadets performance.

Carolina Crown

Crown is teaming up with York County Music Association and the high school music community for a PINK OUT for cancer awareness. The drum corps event, FirstBEAT MMX 2010 will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, June 20 at the Fort Mill High School stadium, and those who attend are encouraged to wear pink.
Cascades

The Cascades wrapped up a successful rehearsal camp over the Memorial Day weekend. As reported on the corps’ website: “The stronger maturity level of this year's members was very evident to the staff as the corps went back to the beginning of the show and added a ton of movement to enhance the visual program.”
Crossmen

The Crossmen are still on the lookout for a few dedicated volunteers for the summer season. Help is particularly needed with the food crew, night driving and uniforms.


Forte

The newly-approved Open Class corps will be using King horns this summer for its debut season. Brass Caption Head Andrew Lee is pleased with the sound quality and durability of the instruments and says the new horns will help make the corps competitive this summer.

Mandarins

Check out a new video on the Mandarins’ website showing what corps members were up to at their recent Memorial Day weekend rehearsal camp. The group’s first competitive performance will be on Friday, June 25 in Clovis, Calif.

Oregon Crusaders

Oregon Crusaders reports having a productive, though rainy, Memorial Day rehearsal camp in the Northwest. Spring training will begin on June 18 for corps members as they get set to hit the road for the summer tour.


Pacific Crest

Pacific Crest posted a list of June rehearsal sites. The corps will be at Diamond Bar (Calif.) High School on June 5 and 6, Irvine High School on June 12 and 13 (with a sneak preview on the 12th), and finally, they’ll be at Damien High School June 14-20. 

Phantom Regiment

There’s more than one way to get your Regiment fix this week. On Sunday, June 6, the corps teams up with the Leaf River Lions Club for the “Summer Daze” parade in Leaf River, Ill. And on Tuesday, June 8, Phantom continues its Music in the Park series, joining special guest Harry Watters, jazz trombonist. Watters serves with the U.S. Army Band and has performed with other famous artist like jazz drummer Peter Erskine. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Shell at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford, Ill.

Pioneer

You can follow the latest Tweets from Pioneer on the corps’ website. The corps is using Twitter to keep fans updated during its spring training rehearsals in Milwaukee.


Racine Scouts

The Racine Scouts will kick off their all-day spring training rehearsals the weekend of June 12.


Raiders

The Raiders celebrated their 20th anniversary on May 23 with a banquet in Pompton Plains, N.J. According to a press release, the event included a showcase of memorabilia from past years, stories from Raiders alums, and a group sing-along of the corps song “One More Time.”

Santa Clara Vanguard

Santa Clara Vanguard recently posted its complete summer tour and rehearsal schedule, including a list of mail stops so friends and family can keep in touch with corps members on the road.

Spartans

Spartans posted their rehearsal schedule for early June, which includes a June 5 concert at Greely Park in Nashua N.H., and June 12 parades in Warwick, R.I. and Quincy, Mass.


Spirit of Newark/New Jersey

Spirit of Newark/New Jersey posted its summer schedule of rehearsals and performances which will include tour stops in Connecticut, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio before the corps heads to the DCI World Championships in Michigan City, Ind. on Aug. 10.

Les Stentors

The Stentors from Quebec, Canada were featured in “The Tribune,” a Canadian newspaper, reporting on the corps’ May 19 lobster dinner fundraiser.


Thunder

Memorial Day weekend went well for Thunder members as they get set to make their return to the Drum Corps International Tour after a one-year absence. Despite some inclement weather, members accomplished the goals set at the start of the rehearsal camp.

Sluggo's blog is not endorsed or sponsored by DCI (Drum Corps International), nor any drum corps. I am not in a position to answer particular questions regarding anything involving drum corps or the corps'. The pictures you see have been borrowed only for the sole purpose for pleasure, and to promote the Drum Corps activity. If you have any specific questions about drum corps, you should go to the DCI website and contact them there. If you have a specific question on the audition process for a particular corps, please go directly to that corps' website.